TEHRAN (FNA)- The Syrian army has launched a major offensive to fully recapture the ancient city of Palmyra, Homs, from the grip of the ISIL terrorists, a military source said.

“The air force struck more than 160 Daesh (ISIL) targets, killing and wounding terrorists and destroying weapons and vehicles equipped with machine-guns on the outskirts of Palmyra and elsewhere in the province,” the source said on Monday on condition of anonymity.

The source added that mop-up operations are also underway in nearby areas of Palmyra including al-Suknah, the Arak, and al-Hail gas field.

Syrian state TV also reported that more than 50 Takfiri terrorists have been killed since the start of the operation.

The ISIL terrorists recently overran Palmyra in central Homs in an attempt to take full control of the ancient city, but were pushed back by the Syrian troops.

The ISIL Takfiri terrorists currently control shrinking swathes of Syria and Iraq. They have threatened all communities, including Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, Christians, Ezadi Kurds and others, as they continue their atrocities in Iraq.

Senior Iraqi officials have blamed Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and some Persian Gulf Arab states for the growing terrorism in their country.

The ISIL has links with Saudi intelligence and is believed to be indirectly supported by the Israeli regime.